#Frankensmack

I thought it’d be the perfect present.

Lizzie had to beg for Rex. Even though she’s older than me, Mom said Lizzie couldn’t handle it: feeding, walking, poop-scooping. But Lizzie didn’t give up. And she and Rex loved each other. Then he got hit.

So I gave her a better puppy. He’s slower than Rex 1, he drools a lot, and his bark sounds like snurf. But he’s fluffy and bouncy when I unhook the electrodes. He still loves her, I can tell.

But Lizzie doesn’t love him now. She won’t stop screaming.

Mom looks like thunder.

I’ll fix it.

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Fritos!

Yes. This.

Frito Pie. My Indiana childhood deprived me of this Texas high school concession-stand staple. I've tried to make up for it since I arrived here 15 years ago.

But Not This.

One of the Occupy San Antonio protesters was using her iPad as a mirror to fix her hair this morning. And that's the situation in a nutshell.

Mayor of Nerdville

Still digging my homemade project-management spreadsheet. Needs more color coding, though.

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but I my Frito Pie fest at lunch may adversely affect my dinner appetite. And my fat stores.

Question of the Day

What is your favorite crispy snack?

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Clove and Black Pepper

Yes. This.

Zagnut bars. Did I really go 41 years without one of these?!

But Not This.

Vanilla. I'm over it. How can one flavor be blah and cloying? And vanilla scent? Hurl.

Mayor of Nerdville

Felt like a mover and shaker today, setting up workshops at schools. Hoping to get Magik's teaching artists into schools even more than they already are.

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but I took more half'n'half from the company fridge today. Slippery slope!

Question of the Day

What are your favorite spices?

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Myers. (His mask is way creepier.)

Yes. This.

The Freakonomics Radio podcast. Two economists on a variety of topics. I know, sounds dull. It's all about human decision making...but more interesting than that sounds, too. (No wonder they called their book Freakonomics. Straight-up econ is a hard sell.)

But Not This.

What I thought was pecan tree sap falling on my scooter? Coworker Dave says it's aphid waste. Yech.

Mayor of Nerdville

Got a Roomba today. Not to be confused with a Woomba.

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but I charged up the Roomba at work so I can use it as soon as I get home.

Question of the Day

Michael Myers or Jason Voorhees?

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These words are true.

Yes. This.

That slightly fatigued feeling in my lungs after a hard workout. It's either progress or pneumonia.

But Not This.

The woman who drove around me on the left -- in the left turn lane -- cutting me off in the intersection, and then...wait for it...turned right. I exhausted my Big List of Bad Words on her this morning. The worst part? She was the second driver to do that to me in one week.

Mayor of Nerdville

Made myself a project management spreadsheet today. One tab for each current project. The first tab displays the Next Steps for each project. It...is awesome.

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but I keep scraping my knuckles on things, even the floor. Doesn't bode well for my evolutionary status.

Question of the Day

If your favorite curse word was an acronym for a sentence, what might that sentence be?

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Burnt

Yes. This.

The End of the World might happen today. Or it might not. Since you and I are both still here (losers!), here's how The Oatmeal thinks the Big Event might go down.

But Not This.

The pecan trees currently spitting sugary sap onto my parked scooter. On the bright side, my gloves stick to the handles, so that might be safer, and my engine smells like toasted marshmallows when it warms up.

Mayor of Nerdville

Haven't yet bothered to cover my scooter to prevent pecan sap build-up. SO LAZY. No wonder I wasn't raptured.

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but I don't accept the Rapture as a significant statistical probability.

Question of the Day

Marshmallows: raw, toasted, or burnt?

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Oud

Yes. This.

The Big Cat Cub photo gallery at National Geographic, which includes...

But Not This.

Celebrating a person's death.

Mayor of Nerdville

Finished the classroom guides for Magik's 2012 production of Aladdin, the English/Spanish dual-language edition. Did you know that "a flying carpet" translates to una alfombra voladora? At least, I hope it does.

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but I'm one of the peanut-butter-cracker bandits at work. My boss is the other one. ¡Viva los bandidos!

Question of the Day

What's the coolest word you learned in the past week?

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Pop

Yes. This.

An evening without TV. I didn't think we watched much, but we do have it on most evenings. Last night was for reading, though. Amazing how much longer the evening feels.

But Not This.

"Me and him [verb]..." Heard an illustrator use this construction over and over at a reading for a group of teachers. Cringe!

Mayor of Nerdville

Yes, I judge people by their grammar, but I come by it honestly. My grandmother used to send Mom's letters from college back to her, corrected for grammar and spelling. Mom played a part, too; I know because every time I hear a kid say something like "Me and him [verb]" and not get corrected by the nearest adult, I think, "No way Mom would've let me say that." Like holding my dinner fork with a fist or leaving my school stuff on the hallway floor. NO WAY.

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but I skipped a Fresh Air episode about combat injuries in favor of one with Ted Danson and Will Ferrell. 

Question of the Day

Carbonated beverages: soda, pop, or coke?

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Shambling

Yes. This.

Today's weather: 76F, 21% humidity, windy. Fire conditions, yes. Also Sane Shannon conditions.

But Not This.

Emails typed in a cursive font. Cursive was used to (1) keep ink flowing from certain types of pen tips onto paper, and (2) torture pre-teen boys during handwriting lessons. We don't use pens for email, and pre-teen boys type faster than I do. Let cursive die.

Mayor of Nerdville

I have an urge to rewrite my book from scratch. One of my favorite writing exercises -- a good one for writer's block -- is to retell a known fairy tale. You already know the story and the characters, so it just tends to flow, even if the setting is different than is traditional. With Briar-Bound, I know the story and characters well now. In revisions, I'm adding chapters of new material and finding the voice and tone from chapter to chapter inconsistent, so I feel the urge to start fresh. It's not an overwhelming urge; more like a mental dare. If it gets to double-dog level, I'll let you know.

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but I've started watching The Walking Dead, and sometimes, when I turn off the lights for the night, I hurry down the hallway with an eye over my shoulder.

Question of the Day

Zombie preference: shambling or agile?

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Writing

Yes. This.

A post by writer Tricia Clasen featuring a video interview with Markus Zusak, author of The Book Thief. The most meaningful quote for me from the interview: "Half of writing a book is just forgetting that there's even  a world that exists beyond the book."

But Not This.

Local "Occupy Wall Street" protesters with no cohesive message...who don't exhibit evidence of a plan beyond complaining...who decry corporate greed but use smartphones to keep in touch with their movement...and who walk through parking lots and public restrooms with bare feet. They could be actively building a vibrant, self-reliant community that doesn't need large corporations. Instead, many show neither direction nor common sense.

Mayor of Nerdville

Things I Wikipedia'd today for classroom guides: Tschaikovsky's The Sleeping Beauty, Disney's Aladdin, and the Canary Islands.

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but I used some half & half from the company fridge, and I wasn't the one who bought it. I will bring in a new carton when I bring the milk I want for tea.

Question of the Day

What will you be doing one hour from now?

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1040

Yes. This.

Kids who come to The Magik Theatre in costume, and not just during the Halloween season. That urge you have to be someone else for a day, kids? It's A-OK. (And if you're good at it when you grow up, it pays!)

But Not This.

Dave caught himself on fire yesterday while welding. This morning he went to show me the hole he burned through his outer shirt. On seeing a burn hole in the sleeve, he said, "No, that was the other fire." WHAT?

Mayor of Nerdville

Went to two elementary schools this afternoon to drop off thank yous for hosting R. L. Stine last week. Was too lazy to take off my helmet at the second school, or my cycle jacket or gloves. I looked like an astronaut on the planet Dork.

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but I need to file another extension for our 2010 tax return. Like, tonight.

Question of the Day

1040 or 1040-EZ?

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Sylvania

Yes. This.

The Princess Curse, by Merrie Haskell. I've been looking forward to this one. I'd read her short story "Reparations," then heard the Escape Pod audio of it, so I knew she had chops. I was excited to see what she would bring to a middle-grade readership (the target market of Curse, according to Amazon -- I'd say it's especially good for the upper end of that range). The story features a strong lead girl and a vivid setting. And though it's fantasy, it's built on a historical frame, which I love. I don't dig the title, but it works on a couple of levels, so that's nice. The real meat, though, is how Haskell weaves a several different mythologies together to create a new take on all of them. Here's the cover -- look for it!

But Not This.

Bad movie stunts. The place where I write usually has Turner Classic Movies on. Today's movie is set in Africa. I think the heroine was just attacked by a lion, but it totally looked like someone threw a rug at her.

Mayor of Nerdville

Listened to Book of Mormon all day again. Starting to appreciate the non-hit songs now.

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but I finished an Insanity workout with three coworkers one hour ago and my shoulders are already sore.

Question of the Day
What was the setting of the last book you read?

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Hello

Yes. This.

Via Daily Candy...

rice balls + pandas = almost too cute to eat (almost)

But Not This.

Bye weeks. Good for NFL players to rest up...bad for my fantasy lineup.

Mayor of Nerdville

Finished the classroom guides for Magik's 2012 production of Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical. Looked up songs with nonsense lyrics for the music activity. Spent a few minutes (OK, several) re-enjoying Mah-Na Mah-Na.

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but I listened to the Book of Mormon soundtrack maybe 5 times today. *ding-dong*

Question of the Day

What was the last song you listened to?

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It's No Canadian Thanksgiving

Yes. This.

Last night, Dave made the best beef-vegetable-barley soup I've ever had. Had it again tonight, with added kale. The key to keeping the carrots and potatoes intact was to blanch them separately with an herb sachet, then add them to the soup just before serving. 

But Not This.

The car that just sped through our neighborhood. When I can detect the Doppler Effect in the sound of your tires on the pavement, you're driving too fast.

Mayor of Nerdville

That's right, I said Doppler Effect.

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but I wore open-toe mules on my scooter today, instead of the lace-up, closed-toe shoes I should have worn.

Question of the Day

What do you think of Columbus Day?

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The Shining

Yes. This.

Dave's set design for Who Let the Ghosts Out?, which opened today at Magik. It has two main pieces: (1) a house front that pivots around a central point, and (2) a periaktos, a 3-sided piece set within the circle formed by the moving house front and that pivots around the same central point on stage. Here's Dave's design video, followed by some stills of the finished set.

House front

The periaktos - living room side (see the back of the house front?)

A look at the frame and pole forming the central pivot

But Not This.

Didn't make writing time yesterday because of special events at the Theatre. Have to wait till late today, but will make time.

Mayor of Nerdville

I invested in an iPad2 for 3 main reasons: to Skype with family and friends, to have a lighter typing device for travel, and to deposit our paychecks. I just did the check thing. It's thrilling every time. I also read on it every day. I didn't think I'd take to the larger screen, but I like seeing a book's text in context -- more lines on the page, more white space. I read holding it landscape-style, so that (in iBooks anyway) two pages show side by side. More than once (embarrassingly often, really) I catch my fingers moving to turn a 3D page.

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but R. L. Stine is at our theatre for the opening of Who Let the Ghosts Out? and I've spent some time with him the past two days doing school-related events, and when he asks, "Who's read a Goosebumps book?" I can't raise my hand. I have read the two Mostly Ghostly books on which Magik's production is based, but I was graduating college when Goosebumps came out.

Question of the Day

Do you have a favorite scary book? What is it?

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Future

Yes. This.

I get to see these two little nerdburgers at Thanksgiving. I'll give their cheeks such a pinch!

But Not This.

Must wait 7 weeks to pinch cheeks.

Mayor of Nerdville

Have you heard "The Typewriter"? Probably -- it's been around since 1950. Today I worked it into a classroom guide for Magik's spring production of Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type. Here's a video of percussionist Martin Breinschmid performing it with the Strauss Festival Orchestra, Vienna.

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but I walked half of my run today. In other news, I ran half of my walk.

Question of the Day

Do you tend to live in the past, the present moment, or the future?

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Retriever (Any Variety)

Yes. This.

United Airlines web support. I called today to change a reservation I'd made online. Basically, I was turning a 2-destination round trip into a 3-destination triangle trip. The agent found the flights, quoted me the price difference (plus change fee, which I expected). Two seconds later, the price went down, so she gave me the cheaper quote. Then I asked her to read off the flight dates to confirm. As she did, the quoted price of the new route went up because other travelers were purchasing tickets online. So she called in a manager to get me (a) my tickets and (b) the lowest price she had quoted me. Without my asking her to. Yay, customer service!

But Not This.

There are only 24 hours in a day. I'm sure I requested 25. *moves things around on the to-do list*

Mayor of Nerdville

Pouted because my favorite BritComs weren't on PBS this Sunday because Ken Burns' Prohibition was airing. Then I set the DVR to record all new eps of Prohibition. Lemons into lemonade.

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but I love pugs. This goes against my loud proclamations that small dogs are hideous mutations, always yipey and usually bony and generally annoying. I may even, on occasion, have used the word worthless. But the first pug I ever met -- a flirty male at a kennel I worked for -- won me over with his "Hi! Hi! Hi!" barks. Every pug since has gotten a pass.

She could totally pull a car with that thing.

Question of the Day

What's your favorite dog breed (mutts included)?

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Roasted Red Onion and Bleu Cheese Tart

Yes. This.

In the RedBox at my grocery store...

But Not This.

Dead scooter battery. Glad it happened before I left the house, and that I have a spare key for Dave's ride.

Mayor of Nerdville

Spent 15 minutes at the grocery evaluating the features of various travel mugs/cups. As much as I like this one, it wouldn't survive the day-to-day commute in my messenger bag. Got this one (in purple).

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but the dust bunnies under my bed have mutated into something like this.

Question of the Day

What are you making for dinner tonight?

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Jarlsberg

Yes. This.

Terry Gross's May interview with Jimmy Fallon. Listened to it again today. I don't remember him being SNL's impressionist when he first started, but I can hear why. I love me some Barry Gibb Talk Show; this interview's packed great voice work.

But Not This.

Desktop icons that require administrator OK to delete. Who needs an icon for Adobe Reader when the program auto-starts upon clicking any PDF? Boo, clutter.

Mayor of Nerdville

Enjoyed listening to the BBC's A History of Mozart in a Dozen Objects podcast, so have decided to dive into A History of the World in 100 Objects. Good so far.

Shhh, Don't Tell...

...but I had a refined-sugar-loaded bear claw for breakfast. I chased it with a natural-sugar-loaded banana. In the resulting carb-addled state, I may have stumbled onto this photo gallery. All I remember is coming to a few hours later with a mouth full of Wisconsin cheddar. I tell ya, Dave goes to Toronto on business, and it's all shenanigans back here in S.A.

Question of the Day

What's your favorite kind of cheese?

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